The Ginger Factory & The Big Pineapple Yandina & Woombye, Queensland, Australia November 24, 2023 Maybe you can catch the Gingerbread Man! We took a side trip out to Yandina to visit the iconic Buderim Ginger Factory, the worlds largest factory. We learned how the ginger is grown, harvested and turned into delicious...
Noosa National Park Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia November 22, 2023 Noosa National Park Coastal Hike Noosa is born from the aboriginal word "Noothera" or "Gnuthuru", in the Kabi Kabi language meaning shadow. Hike Details: Approx 9km, roundtrip Approx 3-4 hours Grade 4 We did the Coastal Walk hike in...
We took the bus out to Cornwall Park, mainly to walk up to One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie), a high point (yes, another old volcano) south of Auckland city center. It's a paved path, so the walk is fairly easy. A large obelisk sits atop the hill - a memorial to Maori. The walk up is kinda cool because the lower trail...
Dunedin Railway Station Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand September 26, 2023 We hopped on a bus and made our way out to the pride of the city, The Dunedin Railway Station, a predominant architectural wonder. It dates back to 1906, touted as being a ‘Flemish Renaissance-style’ structure featuring white Oamaru limestone...
Springtime Christchurch, New Zealand September 2023 Cherry Blossoms and Daffodils in Hagley Park North We just happened to hit the peak season for the beautiful cherry blossoms that line Hagley Park in Christchurch. The trees are the very popular hybrid, Yoshino Cherry, from Japan. Some of the 1st trees were planted in...
Rangitoto Island, Rugged and Riveting! August 25, 2023 New Zealand On August 25, 2023 we took a ferry from Auckland, Australia over to Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Rangitoto happens to be the youngest and largest of Auckland's 48 dormant volcanic cones and is home to the world's largest pohutukawa forest aka...
Mount Eden & Eden Garden: Massive & Mesmerizing! Auckland, New Zealand August 21, 2023 At 643 feet tall, Maungawhau or Mount Eden is the highest volcano in Auckland. Maungawhau is a large, elongated scoria (dark-colored igneous rock with abundant round bubble-like cavities known as vesicles) cone consisting of two...